Esma was born Esma Couch to parents Hattie and James B Couch in Atlanta Georgia on April 19, 1902.
Esma was a featured aerialist and equestrian, performing under the name of Esma Wilson. Esma's first marriage was to movie stunt pilot and air show performer Albert P. "Al" Wilson which ended in divorce. . Al later died (Sept. 5 1932), in a crash at the Cleveland Air Races.
She performed in both vaudeville and circuses. She worked with many circuses including - Rodgers and Harris Circus, John W. Norman Circus, Patterson Circus, World Bros, Hagenbeck Wallace, Sells Floto, King Bros Circus and Clyde Beatty Cole Bros Circus. Esma also
On November 20, 1934 Esma married circus treasurer Arnold Maley.
In the 1950s Arnold Maley and Floyd King formed a partnership and took out the King Bros. Circus. The King Bros. went bankrupt resulting in Esma and Arnold loosing their home to pay off outstanding debts.
Esma and Arnold formed a new show using salvaged King Bros. equipment, working under the title the "Esma Maley Combined Circus". The circus opened in Stroudsburg, PA., Aug. 18 1956 the circus operated less than a month before becoming stranded in Penns Grove, NJ.
Esma and Arnold continued working with various circuses until her death in 1966.
Trivia: Esma loved fishing. Anytime the circus she was with played near water, you would find Esma with rod and reel in hnd. |
